Product Description

Offering a 360 degree swiveling shaving head and a state-of-the art sleek design, arcitec is the most advanced Philips Norelco shaver yet. Compared to other Philips Norelco shavers, arcitec offers new flex & pivot technology, a more aerodynamic design, and an advanced tube trimmer. The unique flex & pivot technology delivers an exceptionally close shave. Three individually flexing shaving heads are connected by a ball joint system making them swivel, rotate, and pivot with a full range of motion. The maneuverability allows arcitec to adjust to the contours of your face ensuring optimum skin contact and a closer shave -- even on the neck. The new arcitec Shaver is designed to push the boundaries of shaving and to conquer those hard to shave areas. The arcitec 1050 comes encased in a premium black lacquered shell. Drawing inspiration from high fashion, the razor is loaded with black chrome and metal accents. A true state-of-the-art look. Cutting edge innovation doesn't stop with the shaver. Now you can recharge your shaver while you store it, with the Power Pod travel case that plugs into the wall and protects your investment. While at home, you can recharge your shaver in its sleek stand and show off this modern addition to your bathroom shelf. For those sideburns, goatees and moustaches, the new patented precision tube trimmer cuts hairs closer to the skin. This improved performance is due to the tube cutting system moving back and forth capturing every hair. All of these improvements and new introductions make it possible for you to conquer your neck to look and feel your best! Chart your course with the new Philips Norelco arcitec and be confident you're getting a perfectly close shave -- even on the neck.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #217 in Health and Beauty
• Color: Black/Gray
• Brand: Philips Norelco
• Model: 1050/1050X
• Released on: 2007-07-08
• Dimensions: 6.20" h x 2.20" w x 2.40" l, 5.00 pounds

Features

• Flex & Pivot Action: Three independently flexing rotary heads with a 360 degree range of motion to shave perfectly close, even on the neck
• Triple Track shaving heads offer 50% more shaving surface for a faster and closer shave
• Dual stainless steel blade system gently lifts hair to cut it comfortably below skin level, for an ultra close shave
• Battery low indicator and full charge indicator
• Rinses clean in seconds

Amazon.com Product Description
Offering a 360 degree swiveling shaving head and a state-of-the art sleek design, arcitec is the most advanced Philips Norelco shaver yet. Compared to other Philips Norelco shavers, arcitec offers new flex & pivot technology, a more aerodynamic design, and an advanced tube trimmer.

The unique flex & pivot technology delivers an exceptionally close shave. Three individually flexing shaving heads are connected by a ball joint system making them swivel, rotate, and pivot with a full range of motion. The maneuverability allows arcitec to adjust to the contours of your face ensuring optimum skin contact and a closer shave -- even on the neck. The new arcitec Shaver is designed to push the boundaries of shaving and to conquer those hard to shave areas.

The arcitec 1050 comes encased in a premium black lacquered shell. Drawing inspiration from high fashion, the razor is loaded with black chrome and metal accents. A true state-of-the-art look.

Cutting edge innovation doesn't stop with the shaver. Now you can recharge your shaver while you store it, with the Power Pod travel case that plugs into the wall and protects your investment. While at home, you can recharge your shaver in its sleek stand and show off this modern addition to your bathroom shelf.

For those sideburns, goatees and moustaches, the new patented precision tube trimmer cuts hairs closer to the skin. This improved performance is due to the tube cutting system moving back and forth capturing every hair. All of these improvements and new introductions make it possible for you to conquer your neck to look and feel your best! Chart your course with the new Philips Norelco arcitec and be confident you're getting a perfectly close shave -- even on the neck.

	Flex and Pivot Technology: Three independently flexing heads in a shaving unit that swivels 360 degrees for a full range of motion. This ensures optimum skin contact in curved areas, to catch even the most problematic hairs on your neck for a perfectly close shave, even in the hard to shave places.
	State-of-the-Art Design: arcitec's 'central drive' technology makes it possible to design an ultra-slim ergonomic body that fits snugly in your hand -- making it more comfortable to hold and effortless to use. The central drive technology connects all rotary blades to the shaving motor using only one spindle (axle) for a more comfortable grip.
	Triple Track Shaving Heads: with up to 50% more shaving surface for a faster, smoother, closer shave. The Philips arcitec has more blades than traditional single-track shaving heads for more chances to catch and cut hair on every stroke. So you don't have to go over the same area to get a really close shave.
	Superior Lift & Cut® Technology: The dual stainless steel blade system gently lifts hair to cut it comfortably below skin level, for an ultra close shave.
	Advanced Tube Trimmer: Extends out from the body of the shaver -- perfect for trimming your sideburns, goatee, moustache -- then slide it back into the shaver to keep that sleek clean look! The new patented precision tube trimming technology lets you cut off hairs closer to the skin. The outer tube has slots to catch hairs and the inner tube oscillates to cut these hairs.
	Precision Cutting System: Ultra-thin heads have slots to catch longer hairs and holes to shave short stubble. The stainless steel shaving heads are made very thin so they lie closer than ever against your skin to reach every hair.
	Washable: Simply rinses clean in seconds -- for the ultimate in convenience.
Other standard features include: Multi-Purpose Display: Battery Full and Charging Indicators, Shaving Head Replacement and Cleaning Indicator Charging Stand Power Pod Charging Storage Case (ideal for travel) Fully charges in 1-hour for up to 65 minutes of shave time or 21 days of cord-free shaving 3-Minute Quick Charge Automatic Worldwide Voltage Electronic On/Off Switch Hair Collection Chamber Protective Razor Cap Cleaning Brush Every Philips Norelco shaver has a 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a Full Two-Year Warranty.

Accessory Guide

Select the right shaving head for you! Renew for better results
series shaving head         arcitec      1050CC, 1060      1050/1050X, 1090     Smart-Touch XL      9199XL   Speed-XL      8240XL, 8260XLCC        7310XL, 7340XL      7810XL        7400 - 7800        6940LC        5400 - 5800        4000	NIVEA FOR MEN Razor 8020X/33 8040X/18 8060X/25 HS 800 Nivea Shaving conditioner for NIVEA FOR MEN razor       7700 HQ 170 Shaving lotion for Cool Skin HQ 171 Shaving gel for Cool Skin       6700 HQ 170 Shaving lotion for Cool Skin HQ 171 Shaving gel for Cool Skin   Cleaning accessory HQ 200 Cleaning solution for JetClean System

Customer Reviews

The Best In My Book!
I have ready many user reviews and some technical reviews on the Norelco Arcitec and it has brought me to three conclusions: 1) You can't please everyone but you CAN please most 2) Some of the reviews must have been written by the competition and 3) A little more attention to detail will help some of you understand the product better.

I have been mostly a blade man for about 25 years, having only made a few brief attempts at using an electric. For the past several years, I have been using the Gillette Mach 3 and now the Fusion razors. They are the best blades ever, give a quick close shave and cost so much money to replace ($28.99 msrp for 8 blades), that if I changed them out when I really should (weekly is ideal and almost necessary they go dull so fast), I will have paid for the Norelco Arcitec 1050 plus a little extra, in just one year of use.

In the interest of trying something new, I have tried electrics before. I tried Norelco's first generation of the Nivea wet shaver and it was great, though it did run out of Nivea fast, which was hard to find and expensive and then I got bored and distracted and stopped using it almost as quickly as I started. BUT, it is still a work horse and whenever I break it out of retirement, and it still does a great job, even with worn out blades.

So, I decided to give the Arcitec a try. First, everyone comments on design and style, so let's get that out of the way. Great, innovative, light, maneuverable, and incredibly effective. I am NOT a dry shave guy. I only do it out of necessity when I am in a hurry. I have always found that wet shaving, even with my other Norelco which can do either, was WAYYY better and more comfortable. But, this is enough to convert me in just one use. Quick, smooth, effect, close, comfortable.

Let's debunk a couple of design complaints I have read about in previous reviews...

The trimmer...Yes, the trimmer may be a bit small, but I have a small face, and I almost never use a trimmer, so no biggie. BUT, one of the complaints I have read several times is that placement is bad because "you end up cutting your hair with the razor when you try to use the trimmer". People... the razor head pops off! Just pull it off when you are using the trimmer. It's pretty obvious you are supposed to. Which leads me to...

Replacing the blades...Other's have complained that you can't replace the blades, just the entire head from the neck up and that appears to be true. One user even said it costs almost as much as a new razor. Rubbish! It's $33 and change on Amazon for a new razor head. It will probably be less by the time any of us actually need to buy replacements. When was the last time you replaced the blades in an electric razor (O.K., a GOOD electric razor) for under $30? Assuming you do it once a year, you will pay what yo would for one 8 pack of Fusion blades.

Cleaning the blades... you have to open three small slots, instead pushing one button for one big chamber. It takes three seconds, so what?

There isn't a big hair chamber... Again, so what? I always hated having a bunch of hair gather in my razor.

The battery supposedly can be damaged by over charging, unlike previous models. Most likely, Norelco is just being careful. The nature of lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries is that they CAN'T be over charged, they have no burn in memory, and are safe to leave in the charge at all times. Even my old first-gen Norelco Nivea razor with cheap NiCad batteries, could be left in the charger forever and it never burned and still holds a charge for months or even years. You can take the risk and leave it in the charger. I did it all afternoon and evening yesterday with no notable problems.

One last observation, and I'm not the first one to make it... The only difference between the 1050, 1060 and 1090 razors is the LED. Each one offers a little more detail than the rest, but costs noticeably more for that detail. In all other ways each razor is the same. Maybe it's just me, but why pay up to $100 more for a unit that does all the same things? I don't care if mine has an LED that says I have 65 minutes left.

So, nutshell... great design, great performance, great everything. Take negative opinions with a grain of salt. With a 60 day return policy to Norelco, it's worth a trial run. I've only had it for a day and I already like it enough to keep it.

By the way, if you like wet shaving, it looks like it can do that too.

I really wanted to like this shaver!
It's one of the coolest electric razors I've seen. I bought the 1060 which is the same thing as this one except the display. I couldn't wait to get this one. I love Norelco's products. I bought this shaver and tried it for a couple of weeks and found it delivers a really harsh uncomfortable shave with lots of razor burn which I never got from my other Norelco. I think one reason for the harsh shave is that it doesn't have the floating heads anymore that easily give to the contours of your face, this seems to plow into curves instead and you also don't get the range of pivoting that the previous models have (I noticed this didn't surround my Adams Apple like my 9160XL does it sits flat on it). It gives a decent shave but not a great shave like I was hoping and you have to go over areas many times. I think who ever designed this razor just went for how sleek and cool they could make it look and the function came second. You can get as good of shave with a 8140XL SpeedXL which has the same cutting head technology and gain the comfort and save $120. It just won't look as cool on your counter. I've sent mine back and I just bought a Braun Pulsonic 9595 and it's the best shaver I've ever owned. Sorry Norelco but when I spend $200 dollars I just don't want something that looks good I want it improved too.

Best Norelco Yet!
This is the fourth generation of Norelco Electric's I've owned and I must say it's hands down the best. My previous Norelco the "James Bond" Spectra has served me well. It was a comfortable shave but took me a good five minutes to get that real close 'blade' smooth shave. With the new Arcitec 1050X that time is about cut in half and the shave is on par with a blade. Totally different feel that the heavier Spectra. The new design eleminates the need for the pressure adjustment wheel on the older model. The flex head design works very well. Cleaning is a breeze with the flip out heads. The hard shell travel case is nice. The razor charges in the case or stand. The trimmer is just OK and will take a little getting used to because of it's location in relation to the head. I didn't see the need to spend more for one of the models with a few more bell's and whistles. Over all a great electric. A bit pricy but well worth it to me and for anyone that chooses an electric over a blade.